Method and apparatus for centrifugal separation



1933- I A. PELTZER ET AL 1,923,454

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATION Filed July 13. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l a Q l /3/ A 1 A90 A95 ma" we I, gwuentoz 01. 2922261" I I .fl' jlbzerlr Aug. 22, 1933'- A. PELTZER H m. 1,923,454

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATION Filed July 15, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 attoz "e1 4 gwue'nto'a 33 I d1 Bali/Z81 vi. Fewer J21 Aug 22 11933. A. PELTZER ET AL 1,923,454

ETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATION Filed July 13, 3,926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 22, R933 A. PELTZE'R ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATION Filed July 15. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 22, 1933- ll/[ETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATION Albert Peltzer and Albert Peltzer, Jr., Chicago, Ill., assignors to Merco Centrifugal Separator Co. Ltd., San Francisco, Calif., a Corporation 01 California Application July 13, 1926. Serial No. 122,146

62 Claims. (Cl. 233-14) This invention relates to a method and apparatus for centrifugal separation, and particularly to a construction for efficiently feeding a liquid to separate therefrom one of its components by difference in the specific gravity of said com ponents, and the collection of such component elements after separation.

It is a general object of the invention to devise a novel centrifuge method and machine which will enable continuous treatment of fluid feed material, particularly material containing solid components.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a centrifuge method and machine which will make possible separation between the components of the feed, and which when adapted and controlled in a manner which will be presently described, will make possible a substantially eddyless region of separation.

Another object of the invention is to devise a centrifuge machine and method embodying recirculation of certain components back into the rotor, and which will require no auxiliary conventional pumping equipment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel centrifuge method and machine which will prevent such accumulation of solid components as to cause clogging.

The invention presents a further novel method of separating the heavier from the lighter materials by centrifugal action and feeding an additional material to the periphery of a centrifuge rotor in such a manner as to form and maintain a zone which is substantially of discharge consistency.

In the specific embodiments of the invention described, the original liquid or feed material is fed to a separating chamber where components of greatest specific gravity are caused to move outwardly by virtue of centrifugal force. Adjacent the periphery of the rotor, an additional material is introduced continuously, and this ad-- ditionalmaterial preferably includes heavier L components previously separated from the feed.

Rotary energy is imparted to this additional material prior to its introduction, and its pressure can be such that a lighter component of the additional material, which may be a wash liquor, is caused to flow inwardly towards the axis'of rotation of the rotor, to be discharged together with the lighter material separated from the feed. The machine may have a single stage of separation, or may have a plurality of stages of separation as will be presently explained.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section, with a rotor in elevation, through an assembled two-stage separator;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the rotor shown in Figure 1 on enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a plan of the expeller ring;

Figure 4 is a cross section thereof;

Figure 5 is a vertical section of a modified form of feed for a two-stage separation;

Figure 6 is a similar view of a modification for a one-stage separation;

Figure '7 is a vertical section of a further modification;

Figure 8 is a detail of the impeller carried by the rotor; and

Figure 9 is a detail plan of a portion of the weir.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. a

This apparatus and method of separation is designed broadly for application to any desired character of material or liquid in which one or more of the components thereof are to be separated from the remainder and in its specific application will be described in connection with the separation of starch from gluten, for which it is especially designed but not confined to such use. The term liquid or fluid feed as hereinafter used refers to such a fluid material as may be introduced into the machine and its components separated by centrifugal action, and such a feed may comprise solids in suspension, colloids, or liquids in any combination even to the extent of the separationof liquids from gases. The term overflow can be used with ref erence to the lighter material separated from the fluid feed material, and this overflow consists of or includes the lighter components separated centrifugally from the feed. The term underfiow can be used with reference to the heavier material separately discharged from the centrifuge machine, and which consists of or contains the heavier components centrifugally separated from the feed material.

It will be obvious that the invention contemplates the separation of components of material where the specific gravity is substantially the same but in which the centrifugal action causes a separation of certain elements of the liquid 11 g from each other. This may also occur in instances where the material of greater specific gravity is in such a finely divided state that its settling speedlis lower than that of the material to be separated, under which condition the component having the greater settling speed becomes in effect the heavier material so far as the centrifugal separation is concerned.

In describing the invention reference will first be made to the simpler form thereof embodying a single stage of separation and the essentials which are present in the further development thereof in other modifications.

Referring, therefore, to Figure 6, the rotor comprises a hub 10 through which a driving shaft 11 passes and is connected thereto in any desired manner, for instance by the key and nut as indicated at 12. This shaft 11 is suitably suspended and rotated by any desired type of motor at a speed proportioned to the particular separation and character of material being fed. The hub 10 is provided with a sleeve 13 extending upward therefrom and surrounding the shaft. This hub is provided at its lower portion with a weir 15 spaced therefrom to form a separati chamber 16 and extending circumferentially of such chamber so that the downwardly and outwardly inclined wall 1'7 of the weir forms the outer wall of the chamber into contact with .which components of greater specific gravity will be thrown. At the lower end of the hub a disk-like base 18 is provided having a horizontal wall 19 forming the fioor or bottom of the separating chamber and this wall terminates at a point spaced from the lower end of the inclined wall 1'7 to form an outlet or discharge 20. Communicating with this opening and adapted to receive the heavier components therefrom is an expeller ring 21 mounted at the outer periphery of the weir and cooperating with a liner ring 22 carried by the base 23 of the rotor which terminates in a chamber or pump portion 24 disposed axially of the rotor.

The expeller ring 21 is specifically shown in Figures 3 and 4 and is formed with a series of vanes 25' which collect in the spaces intermediate thereof the heavier material and feed it into alignment with openings in the ring 22, communicating with the delivery or circulating pipes 26. This pipe is preferably disposed so that its discharge will be adjacent the axis of the rotor and results in the reduction of the speed imparted to the material incident to the centrifugal action. The result of this reduction in speed at the point of delivery will be further described in connection with the feeding action. The space within the expeller ring communicating with pipe 26 can be considered a portion or an extension of the general rotor chamber.

At the upper portion of the separating chamber the hub carries a deflector plate 27 provided with an air vent 28 and spaced from the apex of the inclined wall 17 of the weir. The upper wall 29 of this weir is likewise inclined so that the lighter material would travel thereover to a point of delivery. The weir thus comprises in effect a circumferential conical face with the base of the cone in a substantially vertical plane.

The upper part of pump portion 24 communicates with a feed passage 30 which is of grad- 1. rating chamber.

chamber 24 impeller blades 31 are secured therein in any desired manner and extend upward at their ends 32 into the passages 30, these blades being more specifically shown in Figure 8 and may comprise any desired number to secure the necessary feeding action.

As shown in Figure 8 the blades conform at their outer edges to the walls of the chamber 24 and are separated at their inner edges forming a conical intake 33 from the upper portion of which an air vent 34 may be provided. Pump portion 24 extends into a body of liquid and in the movement of the rotor such liquid is fed upward through the head and delivered at the point of communication between the separating chamber and expeller ring as before described.

The chamber 24 may be disposed in connection with any desired form of receptacle, a preferred construction being shown in which the body 35 is of conical shape and contains a body of liquid sufficient to submerge the lower end of the pump portion which constitutes the intake to the passage 30. This reservoir or receptacle 35 may be provided with baiiles 36 to prevent circumferential movement of the liquid therein while the chamber 24 is surrounded by a collar 37 supported by the baliles or otherwise, these members being fixed parts. The delivery from the receptacle is designed to remove the heaviest material therefrom which by settlement is disposed near the bottom and for this purpose a conduit 38 extends to a liquid column 39 in which an overfiow pipe 40 is adjustably mounted by means of a nut 41. By this means a proper liquid level is maintained within the receptacle and the delivery therefrom taken from the bottom. The lighter components discharged over the weir 15 are deposited in a fixed trough 42 carried by an enclosing casing 43 and having a discharge connection 44. The inner wall 45 of this trough is inclined toward the rotor so as to prevent escape of delivered components into the body of liquid within the lower receptacle. 1

A skirt 46 from the casing 43 overlaps the upper portion 47 of the receptacle 35 thus practically closing the same but permitting sufficient spam for an air vent. In this form of the invention, the lower receptacle is filled with material to be separated into its components and such liquid may be fed thereto by an inlet 48 valved at 49. In this application it will be seen that the liquid drawn upward through the rotor by the impeller therein is partially separated into its components by its movement through the centrifugally moving passage which terminates at the point of communication between the separating chamber and the expeller ring. The heavier bodies are thus carried into the ring while the lighter material passes into the separating chamber and any of the heavier constituents carried thereby are brought into contact with the inclined wall of the weir to be fed downward to the expeller ring while the lighter components passing toward the axis of the rotor are forced outward between the fiange thereon and over the upper .wall of the weir to the collecting trough. The heavier separated material discharged through pipe 26 (the underfiow) mixes with the original feed within the receptacle. Such a construction is adapted for the decanting or removal of water from a mass.

The modified form shown in Figure 7 adds to the-simple form in Figure 6 a further feed to the separating chamber and this embodies a variation in the construction of the hub of the rotor, the remaining parts being substantially identical with those described in connection with Figure 6. In this structure the sleeve 50 extending upward from the hub is tubular and provided at its upper end with an inlet opening 51 through which the original liquid to be separated is fed and the lower end of said sleeve communicates with a feed passage 52 within the hub having delivery openings 53 discharging into a feeding chamber 54 which is formed in the upper face of a disk-like member 55 thereon similar in construction to the member 18 described in connection with Figure 6. This feeding chamber discharges through a narrow passage 56 into the separating chamber 16 before described, such passage being disposed to direct the material radially in a horizontal plane over the lower face of the separating chamber.

In such a construction the feed of original liquid is reversed from that described in connection with Figure 6 but the action of the pressure liquid fed to the point of communication between the separating chamber and expeller ring is the same but the material thus fed is a recirculation of the liquid within the receptacle 35. In this form of the invention the centrifugal action causes the heavier components to adhere to and feed down the inclined wall 17 of the weir 15 to the discharge point 31 of the passage 30. The feed from the latter passage being under greater pressure than that produced by the centrifugal action acts to clear the discharge through the expeller ring and also to supply sufiicient liquid to the heavier material to properly suspend it during the final stage of separation. A portion of the liquid from this passage enters a separating chamber 16 for the purposes just mentioned and also assists in producing an upward flow of the lighter components over the ,weir. The heavier material being delivered through the tubes 26 is retarded in its movement by the inward disposition of these tubes which permits the recirculated liquid to act effectively and enter both the expeller andseparating chamber. The discharge from the tubes just mentioned is preferably disposed to fall outside the ring or collar 37. The modification of Fig. 7 has the advantage over the modification of Fig. 8, that the feed is not mixed together with the material returned to the rotor, and therefore effective capacity of the apparatus is greater and power consumption is minimized.

Referring now to Figure 5, we present a further embodiment of the invention employing the form of rotor shown in Figure 6 for one stage of centrifugal separation and a further secondary stage of separation carried by the rotor memher. In this form the rotor 60 is provided with the separating chamber 61 having its outer wall formed by the weir 62 which is formed with an inclined inner face 63 as before described in connection with Figure 6 and an upper inclined face 64 of greater extent than the face 19 before described. The base of the chamber 61 is formed by the plate or body 65 having the discharge opening 66 disposed to deliver to the expeller ring 21 which communicates with the circulating tubes 26. The lower part of the rotor comprises the chamber 24 having the impeller 31 therein and the passages 30 leading therefrom to the opening 66. The rotor is provided above the flange 27 of Figure 6 witha hood 67' forming a further chamber 67 and a feed passage 68 outside of said chamber and communicating with an opening 69 at the termination of the inclined wall 64 of the weir and directly adjacent the upper expeller ring 70. From this ring the discharge or recirculating tubes '71 extend and are inwardly disposed as described in connection with the tubes 26. The feed of original material and also recirculated material is through a hopper '72 which communicates with the passage 68. For the purpose of feeding original liquid to this hopper a pipe 73 is disposed to discharge therein and for the purpose of delivering the lighter components of a mass discharge pipes '74 extend outward from the chamber 67 at its apex. This chamber in connection with the upper wall of the weir is substantially conical in shape as incated in Figure 5. The entire rotor is enclosed with a casing '75 so that the chamber 24 of the rotor is immersed in the liquid in the lower portion 76 of the casing which forms a collecting chamber for the heavier material, the same being discharged through the overflow 77 and adjustable pipe connections 78. The casing 75 is provided at substantially the mid height of the rotor with a collecting trough '79 extending preferably inward and adapted to receive the lighter material centrifugally deposited from the delivery pipes 74.

At substantially the upper portion of the rotor the casing is formed with an annular receiving chamber 80 disposed to collect the heavier components delivered from the tubes '71 from the upper expeller ring. This chamber is reduced in diameter outwardly so as to form a body or head of liquid by which the kinetic energy of the centrifugally delivered material may be used to force the same upward through a pipe 81 for recirculation by a connection 82 into the hopper '72 or for passage downwardly by a conduit 83 delivering at 84 beneath the impeller 31 of the rotor. A valve 85 may be provided to control supply to the line 83 to secure the proper recirculation of the heavier material and its feeding to the lower stage of the rotor.

In this application of the invention the original fluid feed to be decanted or from which some of the heavier components are to be separated is fed through the hopper to the upper expeller ring from which the heavier constituents are discharged into the chamber 80. The lighter components are forced toward the axis of the rotor and into the chamber 6'? from which they are redelivered by the overflow or discharge pipes 74. The material to be recirculated from this stage of separation may again enter the hopper by the pipe 82 or by feed downward to enter the impeller of the rotor and thus feed through the passage 30 to the lower stage of separation by which the remaining lighter components may be removed from the previously separated body 135 or this body further separated according to the specific gravity of its component elements. The lighter components from the lower stage pass to the chamber 61 and are fed upward by the weir into the chamber 67 where they mingle with the from and it will be noted that in each stage of 5 this separation the material to be centrifugally treated is introduced at the inlet to the expeller or discharging means and adjacent a. chamber into which the lighter components may pass.

Such a construction may be advantageously ap- 15o plied for the treatment of gluten in liquid susinclined i'ace 94 forming the Tower wall of a sec- 33 axially of the rotor.

pension by decanting the liquid therefrom separating other lighter components throughsuccessive stages of separation.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 a quite complete embodiment thereof for two-stage separation is illustrated, and in a form particularly adapted in the separation of gluten from a mill starch liquid. In

this application of the invention we have the essential features of the form shown in Figure '1 combined with a second stage of separation super posed as in Figure 5. In this form of the invention the rotor comprises a-body supporting the inwardly extending weir 91 having the downwardly inclined face 92 forming the outer wall of a separating chamber 93 and the upwardly ondary separating chamber 95. The floor of the chamber 93 is formed by the plate or disk 96 having the feeding chamber 97 formed in its body. The top of this chamber comprises a flange 98 carried by a collar 99 upon the hub 100 of the rotor and spaced from the bottom to form a feeding inlet 101. The hub 100 is spaced from the driving shaft 102 to form a feed passage 103 which communicates at its lower end by ducts 104 discharging into the feeding chamber 97. This hub is secured to the driven shaft by the key and lock nut as indicated at 105 in Figure 2.

Extending upward from the body of the rotor is a feeding sleeve 106 having inlets 107 for the feed of original liquid or mill starch to the separator. The base 108 of the rotor is formed with a feed passage 109 extending circumferentially thereof and this passage communicates at 'its lower end with an intake chamber or pump portion 110 which is adapted to be submerged in a body of liquid. Within this chamber 110 the impeller 31 before described in connection with Figure 6 is disposed with the central space The upper wings or arms 32 of this impeller extend into the passages 109 and any desired number of the radial blades may be used. The air vent pipe 34 communicates with a central passage 112 above the space 33. It will be understood that the impeller is fixed in position relative to the other members of the rotor and the specific construction is shown in Figure 8.

The feed of material to be separated from the chamber 93 and the passages 109 joins at a point immediately adjacent the expeller ring 21 before described, which is suitably mounted in the body 90 of'the rotor and cooperates with the liner 22 and the recirculating tubes 26 extending from the apertures in said liner. The specific construction of this expeller ring is shown in Figures 3 and 4 and it will be .noted that the vanes 25 thereof form intermediate tangentially disposed chambers which are reduced in diameter as they approach the outer periphery of the ring and at this point communicate with the openings through the liner 22. The result is that the ring collects the heavier material and the form of the passage between the vanes forces it outwardly to a point of discharge.

It has been found desirable to provide the weir with a slot or channel 113 having its outer wall disposed at an angle tothe axis of the rotor and adapted to insure the removal of substances from the heavy materials, which substances, due to their physical characteristics such as specific gravity and size would be diflicult to float over the weir without an appreciable loss of the heavy materials with the lighter components. This is indicated in Figures 2 and 9. The flange 2'! 'which is disposed slightly above the inward apex of the weir is provided with an air vent 114 which prevents the formation of an air pocket at the upper'portion of the separating chamber. The impeller ring 21.may also be provided with any desired number of plugged openings at the extremity of the vanes to facilitate the removal of foreign matter that may have found its way into the rotor due to the materials to be sep- 1 arated not being prepared properly.

The upper portion of the rotor body 90 is provided with a second expeller ring 70 as indicated'. in Figure 5, this being combined with a liner 116 from which inwardly directed delivery tubes; 117 extend. This expeller ring is disposed at the upper end of the inclined wall 94 of the weir at which point the depending flange or hood 118 supported from the hub of the rotor extends to form the ,upper portion of the chamber 95, these members being spaced to permit delivery tothe expeller ring. This flange in connection with the head 119 of the rotor provides a recirculating passage 120 communicating at its upper end with a hopper 121 having at its lower end wings or bafiles 122 to properly direct the material into said passage. This passage 120 discharges at the expeller ring and merges into the discharge from the upper wall of the weir. This discharge comprises theheavier components of the material treated such as gluten, in the case of starch separation, and the lighter components approach the axis of the rotor and are discharged by the tubes 123.

The construction just described has referred to the rotor member as shown in Figure 2, and for the purpose of explaining the feed, recirculation, and delivery of material reference is made to Figure 1. The lower collecting receptacle 124 is substantially similar in construction to that described in connection with Figure 6 and may be supported by standards 125 and provided with a draw-off connection 126 at its bottom. The delivery from the lower portion of this receptacle is by means of a conduit 127 communicating with a liquid column 128 having a discharge tube 129 adjustably mounted therein. The receptacle is further provided with suitable bafllles 130 to prevent rotative movement of the liquid within the receptacle incident to the motion of the rotor. posed beneath the upper portion of the liquid level in the receptacle which may be determined by an adjustment of the outlet 129 and thus receives the lighter components of this recep tacle. The discharge into the receptacle from the tubes 26 from the expeller ring is into a chamber 131 having a central opening 132 to deliver within a ring 133 which prevents a splashing or disturbance of the contents of the receptacle incident to the centrifugal motion of the liquid at the point of delivery from the tubes. This chamber may be formed with a suitable discharge spout at 134.

The upper portion 135 of the housing or casing is formed with a trough 136 and delivery pipe 137 adapted to collect and discharge the decanted liquid or lighter components issuing from the pipes 123 from the upper separating chamber. These pipes discharge directly into a shell 138 carried by an inner suspended casing or frame 139. This shell receives the impact of The chamber 110 of this rotor is disthe decanted liquid and permits its discharge through a central opening 140 into a spout 141 discharging into the trough 136.

If it be desired to use this decanted liquid for supplying additional moisture to the material to be fed apipe connection 142 may be provided from the shell 138 and has a suitably valved discharge 143 into a feed hopper 144 suspended in communication with the openings 107 shown in Figure 2. This hopper is surrounded by a container 145 which is adapted to receive the heavier components from the upper stage of separation and recirculate them when found desirable. For this purpose an inlet gate 146 is formed in the wall of the hopper 144 while the container 145 has an overflow 147 which discharges into the conducting space 148 at the outer periphery of the shell .138, such space being formed with the usual delivery pipe 149 for the heavier materials.

The material passing through the upper expeller ring is discharged by the tubes 117 into a collecting shell 150 and the kinetic energy imparted by the material leaving the tubes forces such material upward through the passage 151 into the container 145.

For the purpose of describing the operation of the machine, it may be considered in connection with the separation of gluten from starch for which it is-particularly adapted. In such case the feed of mill starch is to the inlet 107, thence downward through the passage 103 to the feeding chamber 97, from which it is centrifugally projected through the opening 101 so that the original liquid separates according to the specific gravity of its components and the heavier components tend to cling to the inclined wall 92 of the weir and are thus fed. downward to the passage 109 which is disposed directly at the inlet to the expeller ring. The lighter material at this stage collects next to the hub of the rotor and feeds upwardly over the weir and along the wall 94 to the second stage of separation. This lighter material may constitute the gluten from the starch, and in practical experience carries some of the lighter starch particles in order to insure a complete and accurate separation at the first or lower stage. The delivery at this first stage from the expeller ring is inwardly directed by the tubes 26 so that its kinetic energy or movement imparted by the centrifugal force is materially reduced and the fiow of liquid retarded. This is cooperative in its effect with the recirculating feed of liquid from the receptacle 124 by means of the impeller and the passage 109. This passage reduces in capacity as it approaches its outlet, thus concentrating a head of material and applying a force or energy in excess of the normal centrifugal force applied to the material. The result is that the stream of liquid from the passage 109 divides at the outlet from the separation chamber a portion passing through the expeller ring to properly clean and scour the vanes thereof, While another portion of the body of liquid enters the separating chamber to maintain a proper solution and suspension of the heavier particles at the weir wall and also facilifate the upward feed of the gluten and lighter particles beneath the flange 27 to the second stage of separation. The material fed by the impeller comprises the lighter constituents of the starch liquor within the receptacle 124 and in their movement through the passage 109 a further centrifugal separation thereof occurs so that the heavier layer passes'outward to the expeller ring and the lighter layer inward into the separating chamber. It must be understood that all the liquid of the starch liquor in receptacle 124 is supplied through inlet 48, and this provides the liquid necessary to carry the starch out of receptacle 124 by way of outlet 129 at the proper specific gravity, plus the amount of liquid entering the separating chamber at the point of discharge for the heavy materials. This liquid is termed fresh liquid, and it is this liquid carrying the starch which is continuously refed through passage 30.

A suitable specific gravity for the discharge of the starch through tube 129 is 18 degrees Baum, although both lower and higher specific gravities can be used. At these gravities, coupled with the flow of fresh liquid into the separating chamber, it is impossible for either the gluten or the original liquid in the millstarch to find their way into the receptacle 124. One of the features of the present invention is a feeding of this or any other desired liquid to the point of discharge from the separating chamber so as to jointly enter said chamber and the expeller ring, such refed liquid being under a greater pressure than the normal centrifugal action upon the original liquid transmits some of its kinetic energy to the heavier components, facilitating their separation. The machine can be adjusted so that the amount of fresh liquid entering the separating chamber at the point of discharge carries the correct amount of kinetic energy into the separating chamber to create therein near-eddyless conditions for separating. These conditions are created if the fresh liquid is fed in in such quantities that it increases the speed of the heavy materials to an extent and by doing so decreases its own speed a corresponding amount so that the path of the liquid and the path of the heavy materials through this liquid are substantially on radial lines during the travel of the heavy components towards the point of discharge.

The gluten and lighter material after passing through the gluten expelling ring '70 are adapted to be recirculated to secure more thorough separation by means of the connections extending from the gluten tubes 117 to the container 145 and hopper 146, and this gluten recirculation often requires the addition of a liquid to effect the proper consistency and suspension of particles which is effected by the connections from the decanting tubes 123.

This statement of operation is general in character, as it will be obvious that the parts of the separator will be properly proportioned and adjustable to meet the particular conditions of use present in the material treated both relative to the differences in the specific gravities of its components and their viscosity. The rotor member has been shown as formed of a number of separate elements, but this may be formed as larger units, depending upon the size of the machine to be constructed and the manufacturing facilities for that purpose. This condition of manufacture also applies to the casing and its collecting members, it being only necessary that the collecting members be so disposed as to receive the material centrifugally discharged from the respective tubes of the rotor.

While the specific construction of the various elements of this separator have been shown and described, the invention is not confined thereto as cha ges and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit thereof and as defined by the following claims:

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of separating components of liquids including the step of separating heavier from lighter components by centrifugal action, feeding a liquid into the original liquid to cooperate in the centrifugal action thereon and at a greater velocity than that of the original liquid at its point of separation and in the same direction of flow to impart movement to the heavier components and prevent the formation of eddies, and conducting the lighter components of the original liquid to a point of separate centrifugal separation.

2. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor provided with a separating chamber, means for feeding an original liquid thereto, a delivery means for the heavier components separated in said chamber and disposed to reduce the speed of movement of such components before discharge, and means for feeding a fresh liquid to the point of separation in said chamber under a speed or pressure greater than that of the delivered heavier components.

3. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor provided at its periphery with expeller means, a collecting receptacle around said rotor receiving discharge from said means, means for refeeding liquid from said receptacle to said expeller means, and means for effecting independent discharge of the separated components.

4. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor provided with a separating chamber, expelling means for heavy components communicating at the periphery thereof, a weir having an inclined face forming an outer wall of said chamber, and having means for the discharge of lighter components over the portion of said face next the axis of the rotor, a delivery means from said expeller, and means for feeding liquid to said separating chamber.

5. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor provided with a separating chamber, expelling means communicating at the periphery thereof, a weir having an inclined face forming an outer wall of said chamber, a delivery means from said expeller, and means for feeding liquid to the discharge from said chamber and independent of the feed thereto.

6. In a centrifugal separator, a-rotor provided with a separating chamber, expelling means communicating at the periphery thereof, a weir having an inclined face forming an outer wall of said chamber, a delivery means from said expeller, and an impeller at the base of said rotor having a passage communicating with said expeller and delivering into said separating chamber.

7. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor having means for feeding a liquid for separation, and an expeller comprising a series of vanes having their apex disposed in the direction of rotation and forming delivery passages communicating with a discharge at the base of the vanes.

8. In a centrifugal separator, means for feeding material to be separated, and an expeller ring provided with an annular series of tangentially directed vanes forming intermediate tapering passages disposed to dischargeat the periphery of the ring.

9. In a centrifugal separator, means for feeding material to be separated, an expeller ring provided with an annular series of tangentially disposed vanes forming intermediate tapering passages disposed to discharge at their periphery, and a complemental liner ring having discharge openings for co-operating with the said passages and tubes extending therefrom.

10. In a centrifugal separator, means for feeding material to be separated, an' expeller ring provided with an annular series of tangentially disposed vanes forming intermediate tapering passages disposed to discharge at their periphery, and a complemental liner ring having discharge openings for co-operating with the said passages and tubes extending therefrom, said tubes being directed toward the axis of the rotor to reduce the speed of liquid passing therethrough.

ll. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor provided with a separating chamber, an intake chamber depending from the rotor and having a passage communicating with the separating chamber, a receptacle disposed beneath the rotor into which the intake chamber extends, means for determining the liquid level within said receptacle, and means for discharging the heavier components from the separating chamber into said receptacle.

12. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor provided with a separating chamber, an intake chamber depending from the rotor and having a passage communicating with the separating chamber, a receptacle disposed beneath the rotor into which the intake chamber extends, ;means for determining the liquid level within said receptacle, means for discharging the heavier components from the separating chamber into said receptacle, means for separately conducting and collecting the lighter components, and means upon a casing member for receiving the discharge of lighter components.

13. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor having a feed passage adjacent its hub, a-feed chamber at the lower end of said passage, a separating chamber communicating with the feed chamber. at its base, a weir having an outwardly and downwardly inclined face forming the outer wall of said chamber, a discharge for light components over the upper portion of said face, and discharging means for heavier components communicating with the lower end of said face.

14. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor having a passage for feeding original liquid adjacent its hub, a feed chamber at the lower end of said passage, a separating chamber communicating with the feed chamber at its base, a weir having an outwardly and downwardlyinclined face forming the outer wall of said chamber, discharging means communicating with the lower end of said face, an inclined upper face upon said weir, and a baffie member spaced from said face and disposed in the path of travel of the lighter components of the material separated.

15. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor having a liquid feed adjacent its axis of rotation, a separating chamber having a substantially horizontal base and an inlet from said feed radially from the axis of the rotor, a discharge means at the outer periphery of said base, and means for introducing a liquid under pressure at said periphery to transmit kinetic energy to the heavier components of separated material disposed at I that point.

16. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor having a chamber circumferential of its axis, expeller means'at the-periphery of said chamber, and an in ake chamber having a passage extending to said expeller means to refeed an expelled component thereto.

1'7. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor having a chamber circumferential of its is, expeller means at the periphery of said ch mber, an intake chamber having a passage extending to said expeller means to refeed an expelled component thereto, and an impeller in said intake passage.

18. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor having a chamber circumferential of its axis, expeller means at the periphery of said chamber, an intake chamber having a passage extending to said expeller means, an impeller in said intake passage, and means for recirculating'material from said expeller to said intake chamber.

19. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor having a chamber circumferential of its axis, expeller means at the periphery of said chamber, an in-- take chamber having a passage extending to said expeller means to refeed an expelled component thereto, and an impeller comprising radial blades disposed in the intake chamber.

20. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor having a chamber circumferential of its axis, expeller means at the periphery of said chamber, an intake chamber having a passage extending to said expeller means to refeed an expelled component thereto, an impeller comprising radial blades disposed in the intake chamber, arms from'said impeller extending into said passage, and a vent means disposed to communicate with the axis of said impeller.

21. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor provided with a separating chamber disposed concentric to its axis, a weir having oppositely inclined faces forming an apex, the lower face of which forms the outer wall of said chamber, and means for delivering material over said apex and at the base of the faces of the weir.

22. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor provided with a separating chamber disposed concentric to its axis, a weir having oppositely inclined faces, the lower face of which forms the outer wall of said chamber, means for delivering material at the periphery of' said chamber, and means at the base of said chamber for feeding original liquid thereto.

23. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor provided with a separating chamber disposed concentric to its axis, a weir having oppositely inclined faces, the lower face of which forms the outer wall of said chamber, means for delivering material at the periphery of said chamber, means at the base of said chamber for feeding original liquid thereto, and a secondary separator disposed at the upper portion of said rotor to receive material from the upper face of said weir.

24. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor provided with separating means, a fixed housing having a collecting shell adapted to receive centrifugally propelled material from the separator, and means for recirculating such material from the shell to the rotor, said means comprising a container for heavier material communicating with a hopper feeding to said rotor.

25. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor provided with separating means, a fixed housing having a collecting shell adapted to receive centrifugally propelled material from the separator, means for recirculating such material from the shell to the rotor, said means comprising a container for heavier material communicating with a hopper feeding to said rotor, and a shell adapted to receive lighter material and conduct a portion thereof to said hopper while delivering the remainder to a conducting trough upon the housing having a discharge outlet.

26. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor provided with separating means, a collecting receptacle beneath the rotor, a depending intake chamber from said rotor extending into said receptacle, and means for regulating the liquid level within I the receptacle.

2'7. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor provided with separating means, a collecting recep- :tacle beneath the rotor, a depending intake chamber from said rotor extending intoasaid receptacle, meansfor regulating the liquid level within the receptacle, inwardly directed discharge tubes'from the separating means of the rotor, and an annular shell surrounding a portion of the intake chamber to receive the discharge from said tubes. ,7

28. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor provided with separating means, a collecting receptacle be neath the rotor, a depending intake chamber from said rotor extending into said receptacle, means for regulating the liquid level within the receptacle, inwardly directed discharge tubes from the separating means of the rotor, an annular shell surrounding a portion of the intake chamber to receive the discharge from said tubes,

and a sleeve disposed beneath the outlet from 'beneath the rotor, a depending intake chamber from said rotor extending into said receptacle, means for regulating the liquid level within the receptacle, inwardly directed discharge tubes from the separating means of the rotor, an annular shell surrounding a portion of the intake chamber to receive the discharge from said tubes, a sleeve disposed beneath the outlet from said shell and surrounding the open end of the intake chamber, and bafliles extending radially inward from the wall of said receptacle.

30. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor, a collecting ,receptacle beneath the same, an inlet chamber for the rotor extending into said receptacle, a discharge conduit communicating with the lower portion of the receptacle and with a liquid column, and an overflow pipe from said column.

31. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor, a collecting receptacle beneath the same, an inlet chamber for the rotor extending into said receptacle, a discharge conduit communicating with the lower portion of the receptacle and with a liquid column, an overflow pipe from said column, and means for adjusting said pipe to regulate the liquid level within the receptacle.

32. An expeller ring for a centrifugal separator provided upon one face with an annular series of vanes having their free ends disposed tangentially to the axis of the ring and forming intermediate tapering discharge passages.

33. An expeller ring for a centrifugal separator provided upon one face with an annular series of vanes having their free ends disposed tangentially to the axis of the ring and forming intermediate tapering discharge passages, and a cooperating filler ring closing the opening face of said passages and formed with discharge outlets.

34. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor provided with a separating chamber, means for feeding thereto an original liquid to be separated into its components, means for reieeding a portion of the 1 heavy components previously conducted from said separating chamber to the original point of exit from said chamber, and means for controlling the refed components to impart separating energy to the heavier components of the original liquid adjacent its point of discharge from the separating chamber.

35. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor provided with a separating chamber, means for feeding thereto an original liquid to be separated into its components, delivery means for the heavier'components separated in said chamber, and an expeller member provided with means for increasing the speed of travel of the heavier components in their travel from the separating chamber to the point of delivery.

36. A machine of the class described, comprising a rotary chamber having discharge ports, means for feeding material to be treated into said chamber, means for introducing an additional fluid into said chamber, said means comprising a passageway extending laterally of the axis of rotation of the chamber and communicating at its outer end with the outer periphery of the chamber, means for introducing said fluid into the passageway to establish a pressure head in the passageway tending to oppose the pressure of treated material within the chamber and means tending to automatically maintain said pressure head.

37. A centrifugal machine for effecting separation between substances comprising a rotatable shell having an upper body portion and a lower pump portion, said pump portion being in the form of an inverted cone adapted to have its lower open end immersed in fluid.

38. A centrifuge comprising a rotary shell having an upper treatment chamber and a lower pump portion connected by a passageway, said pump portion including an inverted conical section adapted to..lift fluid in which its lower end is immersed and having a passageway communicating with the exterior atmosphere whereby uniform pumping action is secured.

39. A centrifuge comprising a rotary shell having an upper treatment chamber and a lower pump portion connected by a passageway, said pump portion being adapted to lift fluid in which its lower end is immersed and having a passageway communicating with the exterior atmosphere whereby uniform pumping action is secured.

40. A centrifugal machine for effecting separation between substances comprising a rotatable shell having an upper body portion and a lower pump portion rotatable therewith, said body portion having peripheral ports for the discharge of heavier constituents and other means for. the discharge of lighter constituents.

41. A centrifugal machine for effecting separation between substances comprising a rotatable shell adapted to discharge centrifugally separated fluid material, means for positioning said means for introducing a fluid into the chamber in addition to said heavier separated material.

43. In a centrifuge separator, a rotor forming a centrifuge chamber and having provision for the separate discharge of heavier and lighter centrifugally separated material therefrom, means for enabling introduction of feed material into said chamber, and' means for effecting reintroduction of heavier discharge material into said chamber, said last means including a relatively stationary structure associated with the rotor adapted to effect a return flow of discharge material back into the rotor by virtue of its kinetic energy at the time of its discharge.

44. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor forming a centrifuge chamber and having provision for the separate discharge of heavier and lighter centrifugally separated material therefrom, means for enabling introduction of feed material into said chamber, and means for reintroducing heavier discharge material into said chamber, said last means including an impeller mounted upon therotor, and a relatively stationary structure associated with the rotor serving to effect flow of heavier discharge material into said impeller by virtue of its kinetic energy at the time of its discharge.

45. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor forming a centrifuge chamber and having provision for the separate discharge of heavier and lighter centrifugally separated material therefrom, means for effecting introduction of feed material into said chamber, and means for reintroducing heavier discharge separated material into said chamber, said last means including an impeller mounted upon the rotor, said impeller'being above said no chamber, and a relatively stationary structure associated with the rotor serving to effect flow of heavier discharge material upwardly and inwardly by virtue of its kinetic energy at the time of its M, discharge, and to effect delivery thereof into said impeller.

46. In a machine of the class described, a rotary chamber, means for feeding fluid material to be treated into said chamber, said chamber being adapted to discharge treated material from the periphery of the same, means including provision for returning discharged material for maintaining a zone of treated material of discharge consistency, and means for controlling the depth of said zone.

47. In a method of the class described, characterized by the use of a centrifuge rotor having provision for discharging an overflow and peripheral ports for the discharge of an underfiow; the steps of feeding fluid material to be treated into the rotor, introducing an additional fluid into said rotor, and maintaining a substantial pressure head of said additional fluid at the point of introduction of the same into the chamber to control 75 the amount of overflow discharged from the rotor.

48. In a machine of the class described, a rotor, means for feeding fluid feed material to be treated into said rotor, said rotor having a port adjacent its periphery for the discharge of heavier separated material from the rotor, and means for continuously maintaining a zone of fluid material of substantially discharge consistency within said rotor and adjacent said port, said means including means for receiving and diverting a portion of the A; material discharged from said port for final delivery and for continuously returning all of the remainder back into said rotor and into said zone.

49. In a centrifuge machine, a rotor forming a centrifuge chamber which is of circular contour in transverse cross section, a structure carried by the rotor forming a wall serving to divide the chamber into outer and inner concentric portions which are in communication through an annular passage, said rotor having provision for introducing feed material into the inner of said chamber portions and also having provision for discharging lighter separated materials from the inner of said chamber portions and for discharging heavier material from the outer of said chamber portions, and means for continuously reintroducing heavier material discharged from said outer chamber portion back into the same.

50. In a centrifuge machine, a rotor forming a centrifuge chamber which is of circular contour in transverse cross section, a structure carried by the rotor forming a wall serving to segregate the chamber; into outer and inner concentric portions which are in communication through an annular passage, said rotor having provision for introducing feed material into the inner of said chamber portions and also having provision for discharging lighter separated material from the inner of said chamber portions and for discharging heavier material from the outer of said chamber portions, and means for separately introducing an additional fluid material into the outer chamber portion and with a distinctly diiferent rotative speed than the rotative speed of the outer chamber portion.

51. In a centrifuge apparatus, a centrifuge chamber, means for introducing feed material into said chamber, means for effecting discharge of material containing or forming heavier separated components of the feed, means for returning a portion of the discharge back into said chamber, and means for controlling the characteristics of said return.

52. In a centrifugal method of treating feed material for effecting separation of components, the steps of continuously rotating a fluid mass about a given axis, continually supplying the feed matefial to said mass, whereby centrifugal force causes a progression of heavier components of the feed outwardly through said mass, and causing a flow of a liquid medium through said mass counter to the progression of heavier components, said liquid medium being introduced into said mass together with heavier components previously separated from the feed material.

53. In a centrifuge method characterized by the use of a rotor having provision for the separate discharge of heavier and lighter centrifugally separated components, the steps of intro ducing feed material into said rotor, separately and continuously introducing a liquid medium into said rotor containing previously separated heavier components, and causing a portion of said medium to discharge together with heavier separatedcomponents of the feed and another portionto discharge together with lighter separated components of the feed.

.54. In a centrifuge method characterized by the use of a centrifuge rotor having provision for the separate discharge of heavier and lighter centrifugally separated components, the steps of introducing feed material into said rotor, separately and continuously returning previously separated heavier components into said rotor together with wash liquor and with substantial rotary velocity in the direction of rotation of the rotor, causing heavier components so reintroduced into the rotor to discharge together with heavier components directly separated from the feed, and causing wash liquor so introduced into said rotor to flow toward the axis of the rotor and discharge together with lighter separated components of the feed.

55. In a centrifuge method characterized by the use of a rotor having provision for the separate discharge of heavier and lighter centrifugally separated components, the steps of introducing feed material into said rotor, separately and continuously introducing a liquid medium into said rotor containing previously separated heavier components, and causing a portion of said medium to discharge together with heavier separated components of the feed and another portion to discharge together with lighter separated components of the feed, the portion of the medium which is caused to discharge together with, the lighter components serving to impart rotary energy to theheavier components being separated from the feed.

56. In the art of separating components of fluid feed material, the method comprising the steps of separating heavier'from lighter comfiuid feed material, the method which comprises.

separating heavier from lighter components by centrifugal action, and imparting rotary energy to the heavier components to assist separation from the lighter components by feeding a supplemental liquid into the revolving mass adjacent the point of delivery of the heavier components therefrom, utilizing a part of this supplemental liquid to impart kinetic energy to the heavier components on its travel from the periphery of the revolving mass towards the discharge of the lighter components, and utilizing the other part of the supplemental liquid to conduct the heavier components to a point of separate discharge.

53. In the art of separating components of fluid material by centrifugal action, the method which comprises continually supplying fluid material to a rotating mass of the same, feeding a supplemental liquid into the mass, discharging a part of the supplemental liquid-with the lighter components and another part with the heavier oentrifugally separated components, and regulating at will the proportion of the quantity of the ing to deliver the auxiliary liquid with a pre-.

determined amount of energy to the point of delivery of the heavier components from the separating chamber. Y

60. In a centrifugal separator, a rotor provided with a separating chamber into which feed material can be introduced, means for feeding a liquid into' the rotor at the discharge from said chamber by a passage adapted to eife'ct a distinctly different rotative speed from that imparted to the heavier components of the feed being discharged from the chamber, means for withdrawing the heavier components, and means for conducting the lighter components thereof to a discharge.

61. In a machine of the type described, a rotor, means for feeding fluid feed material to be treated into said rotor, said rotor having a port adjacent its periphery for the discharge of heavier separated material irom the rotor, and means for continuously maintaining a. zone of fluid material of substantially discharge consistency within said rotor and adjacent said port, said means including means for receiving and diverting a portion of the material discharged from said port for final delivery and for continuously returning all of the remainder back into said rotor and into said zone in a closed recirculation cycle, the cycle being characterzed by the fact that it maintains a substantial pressure head of the returned material at the point of introduction of the same into said zone.

62. In a centrifuge method, characterized by the use of a rotor having a chamber divided into inner and outer concentric portions in communication through a restricted annular passage, together with provision for the discharge of lighter and heavier separated materials from said inner and outer chamber portions respectively; the steps of continuously introducing feed material into the inner chamber portion, continuously returning heavier discharge material back into said 

